SKIP THE LINE: Exploratorium Daytime Admission
Recommended by 91% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
San Francisco, USA
- 3 to 5 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Ensure a smooth visit to San Francisco’s Exploratorium by pre-booking your admission ticket. Pass by ticket lines and spend more time engaging your senses and delve into a world of discovery through hundreds of interactive exhibits for the whole family. Explore the amazing realms of physics, anatomy, human perception, and Earth’s ecosystems through inquiry-based displays that delight and inform visitors of all ages.
- Spend less time in line, more time exploring the Exploratorium
- Guarantee admission to a top San Francisco attraction
- Family-friendly attraction keep kids entertained and engaged
- Conveniently located at Pier 15 between the Ferry Building and Fisherman’s Wharf/Pier 39
What's Included
- SKIP THE LINE Daytime Admission to the Exploratorium
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks
- Tactile Dome experience
- Viator ticket purchases cannot be applied to an annual membership at the museum.
- After Dark - Thursday Evening Admission (Ages 18+ only)
Meeting and Pickup
Departure Point
- Exploratorium, Pier 15 The Embarcadero at Green Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
What To Expect
Kids and adults will love the Exploratorium in San Francisco. This favorite family attraction boasts a convenient new location along the Embarcadero waterfront, between Fisherman’s Wharf and the Ferry Building. Enjoy the vibrant bayside energy of Pier 15, and then head inside this unique museum with your all-day general admission ticket.
Explore at your own pace on a self-guided experience through hundreds of exhibits spread across six spacious galleries, including an open-air gallery. Experiment with lights, mirrors, and bubbles in Gallery 3, and discover the inner workings of the brain and human perception in Gallery 1.
Investigate mechanical contraptions in the Tinkering Studio, and explore life from DNA and cells to organisms and ecosystems in Gallery 4. Learn about the natural and human forces that shape the unique San Francisco Bay Area in an outdoor space, and take in sweeping views of the Bay and Bay Bridge at the Bay Observatory.
Explore at your own pace on a self-guided experience through hundreds of exhibits spread across six spacious galleries, including an open-air gallery. Experiment with lights, mirrors, and bubbles in Gallery 3, and discover the inner workings of the brain and human perception in Gallery 1.
Investigate mechanical contraptions in the Tinkering Studio, and explore life from DNA and cells to organisms and ecosystems in Gallery 4. Learn about the natural and human forces that shape the unique San Francisco Bay Area in an outdoor space, and take in sweeping views of the Bay and Bay Bridge at the Bay Observatory.
1
Exploratorium
Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- All exhibition spaces, the Store, dining areas, and all public restrooms are wheelchair and stroller accessible.
- A limited number of wheelchairs and strollers are available for loan, free of charge. They are located at the Info Desk on a first-come first-serve basis.
- Guide dogs and other certified assistance animals are welcome
- Tactile maps for blind and visually impaired visitors are available upon request.
- Coin-operated lockers are located just past Ticketing and the Info desk
- Complimentary museum maps are available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, German, Portuguese, Arabic, Japanese, Korean and Filipino.
- Free admission for children ages 3 and under
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 170 reviews
Shannon_C, Apr 2026
Tends to be geared towards 7-8 and above. Our 4 year old didn’t find activities that were at his level.
Sherry_M, Feb 2026
Do not
go
when large
school groups are there .Afternoon is bettter with less visitors. Look at everything
Marie_C, Feb 2026
For fanily of 5, it can get very expensive. Been here 3 times with kids. Viator gives the best prices if you can catch the tix on saleI. Groupns use to be my go to for all travel, but I gave them up when I found Viator
Susan_M, Nov 2025
Easy relaxed fun time for kids and adults. Lots of interactive activities and large space for exploring
Keeley_M, Sep 2025
Excellent & interesting facility for hands-on learning activities. Great for all ages. Guaranteed to expand your knowledge.
Natalie_P, Sep 2025
The exploratorium is an amazing experience and it was nice having the tickets and being able to move to the front of the line.
The exploratorium is a free for all go at your own pace type of place. Go when you have plenty of time of time it is big and you will want to try everything. It’s great for families. We had a wonderful time.
FRANCINE_J, Aug 2025
It's extremely crowded but has a lot of fun activities for kids. The viewing deck has an amazing view if the water, which was full of ships.
Ashlee_K, Aug 2025
Very well set out exhibition. It is extremely busy and lots of children (some rude and pushing in) but thoroughly enjoyable to have a hands on experience of all things science.
Hardeep_G, Jul 2025
My daughter absolutely loved all the hands-on exhibits—there’s so much to explore and learn. Her favorite by far was the Tactile Dome (requires separate tickets), which was a unique and exciting sensory adventure. Highly recommend for curious kids.
Angela_R, Jul 2025
Plan on a full day!
Food was expensive but you can leave to eat at other places and return with a hand stamp😀!!
I’m 75 and I enjoyed the frequent benches for resting a bit to observe all ages at intellectual play.
Thanks
Is staff was marvelous!
Riley_F, Apr 2025
It was only to skip the getting in line which there was none. So we paid for nothing. No lines and paid extra
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Hello, we are very sorry to hear that you were disappointed. The "skip the line" tickets we sell are the same price as all other tickets, they simply allow visitors to bypass the ticketing counter at the entrance, and proceed directly to the entry point of the museum. They do not apply to the museum experience, and you were not charged extra for them. Many times we do have a line of visitors waiting to buy tickets, and we don't want our visitors who buy in advance to need to stop there to exchange a voucher for tickets.
Sarah_G, Apr 2025
Start with the left wing and then go through the right wing to the exit. This helps with reducing the amount of walking you will have to do
Sumeet_K, Feb 2025
Great experience getting in. Exploratorium is always for kids of all ages. One of our teens, lived going here. Definitely a must see.
AdrianKyle_M, Feb 2025
Very informative and enjoyable. A lot of things to do for kids and adults alike. Great option for rainy days.
Leonard_F, Dec 2024
Great place to visit and explore. Lots of fascinating exhibits. Well worth the visit and price. Could be a bit busy at times.
Peter_A, Oct 2024
Our grandsons (7&5 years old) had a fabulous time)! The people at the demonstration station were fabulous. We had a fabulous time and despite being there for quite some time, didn’t get to every activity or exhibit. We’ll be back again soon. Great!
Glen_O, Jul 2024
The kids loved the Exploratorium. Lots of physical activities as well as interesting exhibits. They also enjoyed the crafts activity where they colored and glued together a paper bus. A great way to spend the afternoon.
Amy_R, Jul 2024
The Viator system was very new to the Exploratorium and we had to go back-and-forth between various ticket agents to get our tickets printed out. It will probably get better.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Hi Amy, I first want to say that I am so sorry that you had a less than optimal experience. Thank you for taking the time to let us know. We are in process of changing from vouchers that must be presented at ticketing to a skip-the-line barcode that can be scanned at entry to make entry quick and seamless. Unfortunately, for a short time as some of the barcodes are older and some are newer, we have had some confusion, which we expect to resolve as all future barcodes will be skip-the-line. Next time you visit, you should be able to go through to the ticket checkpoint without any need to visit ticketing. Thank you for visiting and we look forward to seeing you again!
Dawn_L, Jul 2024
Had 2hr parking & we didn’t have enough time to do the whole thing! Didn’t even feel like we had been in there that long! Had a great time. Next time we have to find longer parking!
Elaine_R, Jul 2024
The Exploratorium was great. The ticketing was awful. Ordered online and when I got there the system did not recognize all 5 tickets. It was not a pleasant ticket experience and I would not use Viator again!
rita_F, Jul 2024
This museum was extensive and super fun for the kids. We could easily have spent the whole day there.
Michael_W, May 2024
Getting ready to go in, and all of a sudden we were surrounded by 30 or 40 naked people on bicycles. My grandson turned to me and said do we have to be naked to go into the Exploratorium, and I said no we did not lol
Michelle_J, Aug 2023
There are six sections inside and a play area outside. I would plan to spend a minimum of 30-45 minutes in each section.
Marcela_M, May 2023
My grandson (4yrs) especially enjoyed the “hands-on” activities! I loved the tolerant attitude of all parents/adults. Great time for teaching about respect for others, sharing and “waiting your turn”.
Richard_P, Oct 2022
An incredible experience for children and adults into the science of chemistry, physics, and the world around us. The exhibits explain complex information with hands-on experiences and active learning.
Adeline_H, Jul 2022
I feel like I could watch the curtains dance for hours on end. Really neat experience over all. Price was good too))
Thomas_Y, Jul 2022
This is huge
Our son was really excited and enjoyed
His favorite part is area 1
It’s good for everyone
Cindy_A, Jun 2022
Brought my grandkids for my great grandson a birthday. We stayed till closing. They didn't want to go so I'm sure we will return
Margaret_P, Jun 2022
We took our son, his wife & children. It was particularly fun as he has 2 very curious kids but totally different curiosities. The 3 year old had never seen so many things to try & figure out how they worked. The 6 year old danced her life away making all sorts of cool shadows etc
Tina_N, Jun 2022
Very cool, I like the floating heads. My boyfriend was very interested in seeing new science inventions especially the bacteria wall that he calls a world map.
From $39.95
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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SKIP THE LINE: Exploratorium Daytime Admission
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